Learning about an ancestral location is fun. So here is a little bit about one of the places in my families history.

International Falls lies on the banks of the Rainy River. My family settled there. The Rainy River follows the international boundary line between the United States and Canada. This city is at the very top of the State of Minnesota. If you stand on the United States side and look across, you see the lights from Canadian homes and businesses.

International Falls was first a part of Itasca County up to 1906 when it came under Koochiching County.

Smokey Bear

I traveled to International Falls twice so I know a tiny bit about the area. I visited there in 2000 and then again 2001. I went there to learn more about my dad’s family, the McDonald’s and to meet my cousin Mary McDonald Louiseau. Mary was 87 years old at the time. She was my grandfather Ronald’s niece and a cousin to Keith. Her father was Jack McDonald brother to Ronald. The photos are from those trips.

International Falls is famous for being the coldest city in the United States. They have a giant thermometer in the town square to keep track of the temperature.

There are two huge Lumber mills that sit on the banks of the Rainy River. You drive across this very narrow 2 lane bridge to get to the Canadian side which is named Fort Francis. Don’t forget that Canadian money! I am sure the crossing requires more identification then it did back in 2000. So be prepared! Some time in the early 1900’s they built up the river and made a dam across it.

The website of Koochiching County has a section on history and nice article on E. W. Backus the “last of the lumber barons.” Keith’s father, Ronald, worked for this man in the early 1900’s per family history. Ronald was a lumberman. In this article there is a picture of E. W. and other pictures that show the river, lumber mill and more.

Learning about the history of ancestral locations is challenging but rewarding. See the link for the home page to the Koochiching County history pages to the right under “Favorites” where you will find more history about the area.

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About BJ MacDonald

Interested in travel, really into genealogy and researching my family history, classic novels and movies, fantasy and science fiction, photography, history and more...
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Things to Ponder!

The header photo is of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and Cemetery in Chapeau, Quebec.

The OGS (Ontario Genealogical Society) Online Newsletter for October 15, 2016 has a great article on the Toronto Library where their collection has been moved to. How to access it and the documents. OGS was given a tour of the new facilities. I was at the North York on my trip to Canada and that is now closed with the collection moved to the main library. They don't discuss parking but that could be an issue.

It is with sadness I report that the Chanute Air Museum is closing for good. I am so glad I visited this museum on the base where my Dad, Keith, spent his time learning his craft of airplane mechanic. August 12, 2016